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The Luhya People as Abaluyia or Luyia
The Luhya, also known as Abaluyia or Luyia, are a Bantu ethnic group native to western Kenya and parts of Uganda. They represent the second-largest ethnic group in Kenya, following the Kikuyu, and make up about 14% of the Kenyan population. Historically referred to as the Kavirondo, multiple small tribes in North Nyanza united under the name Baluhya between 1950 and 1960. This unity brought together culturally and linguistically similar clans into a cohesive group known today as the Luhya. The Luhya are divided into 20 (or 21, if the Suba are included) distinct clans, each with its own dialect and cultural practices. Some of the notable clans include the…
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The Kikuyu people as Gikuyu or Agikuyu
The Kikuyu people, known as Gikuyu or Agikuyu, are a prominent Bantu ethnic group primarily concentrated in Central Kenya, with a population of approximately 8.1 million as of 2019, making them the largest ethnic group in Kenya. Their language, Gĩkũyũ, is part of the Northeastern Bantu group and is closely related to languages spoken by neighboring groups such as the Embu, Meru, and Mbeere. Historically, the Kikuyu have a rich cultural heritage rooted in their agricultural lifestyle and communal traditions. They traditionally lived in homesteads known as “manyatta,” consisting of circular houses made of mud and thatch roofs. Social organization revolved around family units led by elders, with community decisions…
